Water resistant in-line fuse holder

Abstract

Embodiments for an in-line fuse holder each include at least one housing and two mating pieces, which can snap-fit together and be held moveably together via a strap. Each embodiment houses at least one fuse, such as an automotive fuse. In one example, the fuse includes a first housing forming a first cavity, which is configured to house a first portion of the fuse. The first housing also includes a projection having sides that taper outwardly as the sides extend away from the first housing. The fuse holder also includes a second housing forming a second cavity, which is configured to house a second portion of the fuse. The second housing includes a channel having sides that taper outwardly as the sides extend into the second housing. The projection and channel snap-fit together in a water resistant relationship.

1 . A fuse holder for a fuse comprising:
 a first housing;   a second housing, at least one of the first and second housings forming a cavity configured to house the fuse; and   wherein the first housing includes a first side that overlaps a first side of the second housing and engages the first side of the second housing along a bottom edge thereof so as to hold the first and second housings together in a frictional and moisture resistant relationship.   
   
   
       2 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second housings include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of: (i) being configured to snap-fit together; (ii) being connected together via a strap; and (iii) being made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: plastic and rubber. 
   
   
       3 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second housings defines first and second apertures enabling first and second leads to be inserted into the at least one housing so as to be in electrical communication with first and second terminals of the fuse. 
   
   
       4 . The fuse holder of  claim 3 , wherein the terminals of the fuse extend below a body of the fuse, and wherein the cavity is configured in combination with the first and second apertures so that the first and second leads contact the first and second terminals at a point below the body of the fuse. 
   
   
       5 . The fuse holder of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second terminals of the fuse have side edges exposed from a body of the fuse, the first and second terminals not extending at least appreciably below the body, and wherein the cavity is configured in combination with the first and second apertures so that the first and second leads contact the first and second terminals at the exposed side edges of the terminals. 
   
   
       6 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to hold a fuse of at least one type selected from the group consisting of: a blade fuse, a cartridge fuse and an automotive fuse. 
   
   
       7 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a second side that overlaps a second side of the second housing and engages the second side of the second housing along a bottom edge thereof, the engagement of the first and second sides of the first and second housings tending to hold the housings together in a frictional and moisture resistant relationship. 
   
   
       8 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes at least one additional side that overlaps but does not engage an additional side of the second housing. 
   
   
       9 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the first housing includes a clip that engages a projection extending from the first side of the second housing, along the bottom edge of the second housing. 
   
   
       10 . The fuse holder of  claim 1 , wherein the fuse holding cavity is formed in at least one of the first and second housings. 
   
   
       11 . A fuse holder comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, the cavity configured to hold a fuse, the housing further including at least one side wall defining an opening configured to enable the cavity to receive the fuse;   a lid including a projection configured to extend into the opening of the housing and engage the sidewalls so as to hold the lid to the housing in a frictional and moisture resistant relationship; and   a strap connecting the lid to the housing.   
   
   
       12 . The fuse holder of  claim 11 , wherein the housing and the lid include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of: (i) being configured to snap-fit together; and (ii) being made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: plastic and rubber. 
   
   
       13 . The fuse holder of  claim 11 , wherein the housing defines first and second apertures enabling first and second leads to be inserted into the housing so as to be in electrical communication with first and second terminals of the fuse. 
   
   
       14 . The fuse holder of  claim 13 , wherein the terminals of the fuse extend below a body of the fuse, and wherein the cavity is configured in combination with the first and second apertures so that the first and second leads contact the first and second terminals at a point below the body of the fuse. 
   
   
       15 . The fuse holder of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second terminals of the fuse have side edges exposed from a body of the fuse, the first and second terminals not extending at least appreciably below the body, and wherein the cavity is configured in combination with the first and second apertures so that the first and second leads contact the first and second terminals at the exposed side edges of the terminals. 
   
   
       16 . The fuse holder of  claim 11 , wherein the cavity is configured to hold a fuse of at least one type selected from the group consisting of: a blade fuse, a cartridge fuse and an automotive fuse. 
   
   
       17 . The fuse holder of  claim 11 , wherein the lid is configured to snap-fit into the opening of the housing. 
   
   
       18 . The fuse holder of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the lid and the housing includes at least one projection that mates with at least one channel provided by the other of the lid and the housing.